Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-06-10
How LONG, OH! Lord !
Before the Bold Bad Bandit Will
Cease Robbing Texas Railroad
Trains for a LiYing2
A Texas and Pacific Passenger Train
Held Up and Pillaged Within Eight
Miles Oh Fort Worth.
Tie RaIcals Get $3.50 From tho Pacific
Express Company, but Little From the.
maiiB-After Them with BlOOGhoUEc.s.

The east-bound Texas and Pacific pas
senger train from II Paso due in Fort
Worth at $40 p. m, was halted at Brushy
creek, eight miles west of Fort Worth
about 7:45 O'Clock yesterday afternoon
by five highwsymen. The villains then
proceeded with the cut &nd dried pro
gT6mme with which the public - pretty
familiar. The train had left the little
station OF BenbroOk some two miles be-
hind, and was speeding along in the dusk
of the day with full load OF passengers,
none dreaming that within so short q
distance of the grest North Texas me-
tropolis another Of these disgrGceful al
fairs that have stained the fair name Of
the state was about to happen. AS the
engine and tender passed over the tres
tie work across the creek men
toned, several men appeared in front
waving flags vigorously, in obedience TO
which signals, John Baker, the engineer,
speedily brought his train TO q halt Be
fore he cCmprehcnded the trick, couple
of big revOlvers were ct his head and he
was threatened with instant death if he
dared TO move a foot. A few minutes
later and Conductor Garrett was sp-
prised of the situation.
THE EXPRESS ROBBED.
The messenger of the Pacific Express
Company, The. Marsh, was busy making
up his packages preparatory to transfer
ring at Fort Worth He is a new man
and, having no idea Of what the halt was
for, took no precautions about
closing up. But he was des-
tined to rude interruption.
Before MS startled vision appeared tall,
fierce looking fellow, his face BACKED
and red handkerchief tied over the
lower part OF it. "Throw up your hands"
wassthe order. Marsh knew resistance
was useless, and did as he was ordered.
The fellow then helpeC himself to all
there was in sight, and departed with his
booty.
Itis learned from good authority that
the amount of the haul was $3.50 From
the mail car, entered later, only three
registered letters were obtaiued-GOne OF
them for Fort Worth, though visit to
the office here lSter revealed the
f.ct that SIX fat packages were
consigned TO this point. The rob-
bers were simply Outwitted by Postal
Clerk Griffin as is elsewhere detailed
While all this was going on, the con
duCtOT was passing through the coaches
telling the startled passengers what was
up, and recommending that they secrete
their valuables. The order was obeyed
with universal rapidity. Among the pas
sengers Yves Mr.. A. c. Wilmeth, z sur
veyOr of Scurry county. en- route to
Austin, from whom GAZETTE man
CLEANED the following version:
THE SURVEYORS STORY.
As the train neaTed the creek after leav-
ing BenbroOk it slowly came to halt.
was standing outside in company with
Brakeman Stell. When it fully stopped
we both stepped off the train, AMI seeing
some men in front walked forward to-
wards the bridge to recOnuoiter, thinking,
from the actions of the men ahead, that
the late rains had undermined the bridge
and it was dangerous to cross. They
were the robbers and were giving orders
&c cha engineer. The first distinc' order
l heard was to myself and brakeman to
get inside. We disobeyed and walked on.
Again was received the same order. The
train moving up even with me L stepped
back on, as did my companion, who was
some distance in front | was still ig-
norant of design Of robbery and leaned
forward from the steps to look ahead
When | was again ordered IN, and sec
ond after the order was emphasized with
q pistol shot. | needed no further a1-
vice l went in and announced we were
being robbed. The passengers did not seem
to think so, as they made no preparations
tOWerd seCreting their effects In min
ute or so the conductor passed through
the car anu informed US that we had bet
ter hide our effects, as the train was being
robbed At this announcement every one
began to search for hiding places. The
sight was ludicrous in the extreme.
Every odd place was utilized. Some four
or five deposited in the coal box, some in
the stove, some in their shoes and boots
and some turned over their yaluables to
their wives, sweethearts and children.
The closet had an unusual crowd Of Wis
itors, and we Judge there was several
thousand dollars seCreted within its
walls. Every one seemed, though, to
save out little to contribute TO the
knights. Our train then moved up car
or so and made another short stop of
about five minutes and we moved on our
Journey. The robbers were standing
from fifteen to twenty-five steps from the
train with drawn revOlvers as we passed,
holding their ill-got gains in their hands.
HOW THEY LOOKED.
There were FIVE in all, all of medium
height, and all save one af0ot. The
horseman rode q light iron gray horse,
and seemed to be only on watch. He
rode off lust before the train started in g
northwestern direction. After the rob-
berry the others followed in his direction.
The passengers thanked them vocifer
Ously for not robbing them, anG when we
were fully aware that we were let loose
they were given a rousing cheer. No re-
siStance was made by any one in the pas
senger coaches. There was one officer
ca the train who offered to fight if he
could get any aid. No arms seemed to be
on the train, and no resistance Of any
kind was offered.
One man with small pistol fired four
or five shots after we got 8 half mile from
them.
TOLD BY OTHER PASSENGERS,
Among the passengers were Messrs. !
NJ. X. Bateman, ?. T. Coombs, W. L. |
Logan, and Rev. J. Mcknight, of Fort |
Worth. The two first with Mr.. w. A |
Rumbold and S. K. Williamson of st. |
Louis were q merry Quartette seated |
together. Said Mr.. Coombs: eve had |
no idea of what was the matter. |
Some one said train robbers |
and everybody in the cosch laughed, al
soon the conductor came through warn
ing US to hide our money and jewelry;
that the train was being held up by rob-
bers, but that if we stayed quietly inside
they would probably not modest the
passengers. We obeyed religi-
ously. Shortly after stopping